University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Specific Roles of Kal-1 in Olfaction: A Model of Kallmann Syndrome in Drosophila

Ozawa, Rie

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Description

Title
Specific Roles of Kal-1 in Olfaction: A Model of Kallmann Syndrome in Drosophila
Author(s)
Ozawa, Rie
Issue Date
2008
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Stephanie Ceman
Department of Study
Neuroscience
Discipline
Neuroscience
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Biology, Neuroscience
Language
eng
Abstract
The X chromosome-linked form of Kallmann syndrome (KS) is caused by disruption of the Kal-1 gene, which encodes a secreted protein called Anosmin-1. The definitive features of the KS phenotype are anosmia and hypogonadism. Despite high conservation of the Kal-1 gene from invertebrates to vertebrates, the Kal-1 homolog in mice has not been identified. The unavailability of an animal model has hampered research on the disease in vivo. Hence, little is known about the cellular processes and molecular functions underlying KS. Here, I isolated a Drosophila kal-1 null mutant, which removes the entire kal-1 coding region. Antibody staining shows that Anosmin-1 specifically localizes to the dendrites of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) throughout development. The dendrites of ORNs sense odorants in the environment including the Drosophila melanogaster male-specific pheromone 11-cis-vaccenyl acetate, which is known to inhibit male-male mating behaviors. Interestingly, mutant males that lack kal-1 function inappropriately court other males. These results imply a possible role of kal-1 in mating behaviors in part by mediating pheromone perception.
Graduation Semester
2008
Type of Resource
text
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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/82525

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